Abastos Market Tours

Abastos Market is located in Oaxaca, Mexico, and is one of the largest markets in the country and by far the largest --and oldest -- in the city of Oaxaca. Its official name is Central de Abastos, meaning the central place of supplies and that name holds true as you can find just about everything at this massive outdoor marketplace in Oaxaca.

A popular souvenir to get while at Abastos is the green and black pottery Oaxaca is known for. You can also find luxury brand knock-offs, homeware, rugs, jewelry, auto parts, produce and food...so much food. The list goes on and on. Basically, if it's grown or produced in Mexico, chances are you'll be able to find it at Abastos Market.

At the stalls you'll encounter hanging pieces of meat, strings of garlic, local candy, bugs, exotic fruit, spices and much more. One top food product to find at the market is chili ranging from whole to paste and mild to spicy. If you want some authentic mole, which the region is famous for, you're in luck – on any given day you should be able to find every variety of mole being sold at Abastos Market.

Practical Info

Abastos Market is open daily, with its busiest day on Saturday. Abastos Market is located 1 km west of Zocalo, the main plaza of Oaxaca and is a fairly easy walk from there or a cheap taxi ride. Bartering is expected and fine to do at Abastos Market.

Try your hand at preparing celebrated Oaxacan dishes with this cooking class. Tour a local market to learn about and purchase fresh ingredients. A professional cook will lead your interactive class, sharing information about pre-Columbian cuisine and culinary methods. Learn to make tortillas from scratch and prepare a traditional dish like red or black mole. Take your knowledge with you and cook Oaxacan delicacies for your friends back at home.